obama is determined to phase out the bush administration tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 a year. >> he will not sign a bill that extends those tax rates for the top 2%. we can't afford it. it is not a wise economic policy or wise fiscal policy. and it would defeat the principle of balance that he has embraced. >> so with less than a month to go before the deadline, we've now had an offer and a counteroffer, but arguably, no real attempt at compromise. democrats say republicans haven't detailed how they would increase tax revenue and they haven't offered enough of it and republicans say democrats haven't agreed to serious entitlement program cuts. steve, gretchen, brian? >> steve: thank you very much, live from the north lawn. ten minutes before the top of the hour. you probably remember the $6 million man. >> wed into to make the world's first bionic man better than he was before. better, stronger, faster. >> steve: our next guest says he can make this a reality, merging man with machine. it does not involve lee majors. >> gretchen: first let's check in with martha mccall